Research Canada’s Leadership in Advocacy Award honours outstanding advocates for medical, health and scientific research. The Leadership in Advocacy Award is presented to organizations which have made outstanding efforts in advocating for Canadian health research at the local, provincial and/or national level.

Please note that the Leadership in Advocacy Award is aimed at recognizing excellence in health research advocacy rather than excellence in health research, for which there are many other prestigious awards.

Research Canada reserves the right not to select an award recipient in a given year or to name more than one award recipient in a given year.

Criteria:
Awardees will be selected based on the description and/or evidence provided in the nomination package that shows how they are contributing to health research advocacy in Canada.

Awardees are institutions which advocate for health research and positively impact the health research enterprise and/or health innovation system in Canada by working to educate decision makers, the public and the media and/or affecting policy and legislation through effective health research advocacy at the local, provincial and/or national levels. The advocacy work should exceed the normal expectations of regular advocacy practice and should be inclusive and respectful of the values and personal autonomy of those affected by it.

Institutions which use research to improve health outcomes do not qualify (e.g. a charitable foundation or research hospital that mounts a campaign to increase awareness of research to influence policy-makers or produces and disseminates information that shows the value of research to a community—large or small—would meet the criteria while one that simply raises money for research to improve health outcomes does not). Nominees will be chosen if they meet one or more of the following criteria:

1. The advocacy work has resulted in a significant act(s) or specific decision(s) advantageous to the health research enterprise and the advocacy work has been the primary reason the decision was made.
2. The advocacy action(s) or decision(s) advantageous to the health research enterprise were marked by outstanding efforts, process or innovation.
3. The advocacy work generated support or raised new awareness among policymakers, the media and/or Canadians about the nature of health research, its economic and/or social benefit to Canadians and its critical role in nation building.
4. The advocacy work mobilized grassroots advocacy—action at the local, regional or community level.

Other Criteria include:
a) Shares its knowledge of and passion for health research with others through writing, speaking and/or consulting.
b) Has played a lead role in developing/growing community, provincial or national awareness related to health research and is generally recognized as a leader in this field.
c) Actively participates in stakeholder groups dedicated to advancing health research and/or other means of advocating for health research
d) Has actively championed the health research advocacy tool/program/strategy within its organization.
e) Research Canada works in partnership with government and decision-makers, taking a health research and innovation ecosystem policy lens to support all ecosystem stakeholders. Award nominees/Awardees should be aligned with and exemplify these principles of collaborative and inclusive advocacy.

Within the above criteria, additional points may be awarded for these factors:
• Advocacy efforts that include multiple components that serve to frame an issue, develop alliances, and gather and disseminate data relevant to moving the agenda forward
• Consistency of effort

Examples of relevant Advocacy activities:
Click here to read examples of relevant advocacy activities as they relate to the above criteria. Please note that these are not the sole factors in determining eligibility or scoring.

Who is eligible?
Nominees may be an organization/company/institution which represents or is drawn from a stakeholder group across the health innovation continuum: government, academe, industry, non-governmental (not for profit sector), patients, health consumers. All nominees must be advocating for Canadian health research taking place in Canada.

Who is ineligible?
Research Canada Board Directors who are currently serving are ineligible for the Leadership in Advocacy Award. Past Board Directors who have completed their terms or who have stepped down are eligible.

Nominees who do not align with Research Canada’s collaborative and inclusive approach to advocacy or are outspoken on topics that contradict advocacy being pursued on behalf of the health research and innovation Membership represented by Research Canada will be excluded in the vetting process.

Who can nominate?
Nominations are accepted from Research Canada’s Members, Supporters and Partners. A secondary nominator is required for the nomination to be considered and cannot originate from a current member of Research Canada’s Award Selection Committee. Any nomination submitted may be considered for up to two award cycles.

Governance:
Research Canada’s Award Selection Committee chaired by a Research Canada Board Director and comprised of two representatives of Research Canada’s Board and two representatives drawn from Research Canada’s Members, Supporters and Partners governs the award process. The Committee is responsible for the Call for Nominations, evaluation of the nominees and the recommendation of the award recipient to the Research Canada Board of Directors for its approval.

What is the process?
The Research Canada Award Selection Committee will make its recommendation based on evaluation of the nomination packages received. Each nomination package will include a completed form outlining the nominee’s and nominators’ contact information, credentials and designations, two letters of recommendation from two nominators, and a comprehensive description of the organization/company/institution. Please refer to the examples of relevant advocacy activities to ensure that these letters speak to the nomination criteria. Additional information may be provided in support of the nomination.

Profiling the Award Recipient:
Research Canada will work to elevate the profile of the Award recipient by publicizing the Award, the recipient’s accomplishments and contributions to health research in Canada, and the Award event itself through its website, social media, national and local publications and networks. Research Canada will make every effort to organize speaking engagements, interviews, blog posts and other opportunities to promote/profile the Award recipient’s accomplishments.